Complete guide: Cheyenne Safety Cartridge Needle Liner (RL)
This is a disposable needle cartridge from the Safety range of the Cheyenne brand, in liner configuration (RL — round grouped needles), intended for drawing lines and outlines. Its strong point is the patented safety membrane, which prevents blood and ink from entering the handle — the membrane's seal complies with the European standard EN 17169. The needles are made of stainless steel, produced in accordance with the medical standard ISO 13485, sterile packaged, and the displayed price is per piece. It is a choice for artists who work on a cartridge system and want a liner from an established manufacturer.
How to use
- Wash and disinfect your hands, put on disposable gloves and prepare the work station with protective barriers (foils, cover for clip cord/machine).
- Check the sterile packaging of the cartridge: it must be intact, sealed, undamaged. An opened or compromised blister means the cartridge must be discarded.
- Open the blister and remove the cartridge without touching the tip area with your hand or non-sterile surfaces.
- Mount the cartridge into the grip or machine compatible with the Cheyenne cartridge system, pressing/twisting until it locks firmly. Do not force — if it doesn't go in naturally, check compatibility.
- Adjust the needle protrusion from the grip to the length suitable for your linework technique and check the ink flow before starting.
- During work, periodically wipe excess ink from the tip with a disposable towel and dip the tip into the ink capsule as needed.
- When changing configuration or at the end of the session, remove the cartridge and discard it immediately into the sharps container — never in household waste.
Tips from us
- Open the sterile packaging in front of the client — a simple gesture that transparently demonstrates hygiene compliance.
- Prepare more cartridges than you estimate for the session: any cartridge that falls or touches a non-sterile surface is discarded, without exception.
- The safety membrane protects the inside of the handle from backflow, but the reusable grip still needs to be cleaned and sterilized according to your protocol after each client.
- For clean and consistent lines, maintain a consistent needle protrusion and a stable working angle throughout the outline.
- Choose the RL grouping size according to the desired line thickness: small groupings for fine lines and details, large groupings for bold outlines. Check the product page for available configurations in stock.
Warning: Cartridges are sterile and strictly single-use: do not reuse them and do not attempt to re-sterilize them under any circumstances, not even on the same client in different sessions. Do not use a cartridge with damaged, opened or moistened packaging. After use, the cartridge is a sharps waste with biological risk — it must be disposed of exclusively in a dedicated sharps container. Always work with gloves and protective barriers, on cleaned and disinfected skin. The product is intended for professional use, under hygiene conditions appropriate for tattooing.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'RL' mean and what is this type of cartridge used for?▾
RL stands for 'Round Liner' — needles grouped tightly, in a round shape, made for lines and outlines. It is the basic configuration for linework: from fine lines and scripting with small groupings, to thick outlines with large groupings. For shading and filling, other configurations (shader, magnum) are used, not the liner.
Which machines are these cartridges compatible with?▾
Cheyenne cartridges are designed for the Cheyenne cartridge system (including the Hawk line, as shown by the product category). In practice, many pen machines and grips on the market accept cartridges on a Cheyenne-compatible system, but this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer — check the specifications of your machine or grip to see which cartridge system it accepts before ordering.
What is the role of the safety membrane in the cartridge?▾
The patented membrane acts as a barrier that prevents blood and ink from rising through the cartridge into the handle (so-called backflow). Its seal meets the requirements of the European standard EN 17169. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination between clients — but does not replace basic hygiene: the reusable grip is still cleaned and sterilized according to protocol.
Are the cartridges sterile? Can I reuse a cartridge if it worked a little?▾
Yes, each cartridge comes sterile packaged and is strictly single-use. It is never reused, no matter how little it worked — once removed from packaging and used, it is considered contaminated. It cannot be re-sterilized at home or in the studio. After the session, it is discarded in the sharps container.
How do I choose the right liner size for my style?▾
General rule: the smaller the needle grouping, the finer the line — small groupings are for fine line, details and scripting, medium for standard outlines, and large for thick lines, in bold styles. If you are a beginner, a medium grouping is the most versatile starting point. Check the product page for which RL configurations are available in stock.
Is the displayed price for a box or for a single cartridge?▾
According to the product description, the price is per piece. This way you can calculate exactly what you need: you order as many cartridges as you estimate for your sessions, plus a reserve for situations where a cartridge must be discarded (falls, touches a non-sterile surface, or you change configuration during work).
Product description
Cartridge needles With the Safety cartridges, Cheyenne proves once again its leader in innovation, they represent a milestone in work safety, simplicity and hygiene. The needles come with a patented safety membrane that prevents blood and ink from entering the handle. The tightness of the membrane complies with the requirements of the European standard EN 17169. Experienced experts make sure that the needles are in compliance with medical standards (ISO 13485)Material: Stainless steel The needles are single-use and sterile packaged The price is per piece
Cheyenne Safety Liner (RL) cartridge needles are the industry benchmark for premium liner cartridges. The Safety range represents the backbone of Cheyenne's portfolio — more accessible than Capillary yet significantly superior to any mid-range competitor. The Safety membrane is arguably the best-engineered conventional membrane in the industry: constant ink flow, complete anti-backflow protection, and exceptional durability over long sessions. Needles are manufactured in Germany from premium surgical steel, with microscopic-level polishing and individual inspection of each grouping. Taper is optimized for lining — the ideal balance between sharpness and durability. Gamma sterilization — no chemical residues. Compatible with all Cheyenne and universal pen-style machines. Available from 1RL through 14RL, covering the full spectrum from single needle to extra-bold outlines. Compared to Kwadron RL, Safety Liner offers slightly superior ink flow and German manufacturing. Against Cheyenne Craft RL, Safety brings the advanced membrane, tighter tolerances, and perfect consistency. Against Capillary RL, Safety is 20-30% more accessible, sacrificing only the capillary advantage. Box of 20 cartridges. CE compliant. The trusted choice of thousands of professionals worldwide for daily quality lining.
Frequently Asked Questions Why is Cheyenne Safety RL considered the best? Cheyenne Safety RL is considered the industry benchmark for several reasons: full German manufacturing with exceptional quality control, advanced safety membrane with the best conventional ink flow, perfect lot-to-lot consistency (every cartridge feels identical), microscopic-polished premium surgical steel, and gamma sterilization (medical standard). Cheyenne's 15+ year history of tattoo cartridge innovation, combined with constant feedback from the world's best artists, has refined Safety RL to a level hard to match. What RL Safety configurations are available? Cheyenne Safety Liner RL covers the full range: 1RL, 3RL, 5RL, 7RL, 9RL, 11RL, and 14RL. 1RL for single needle and micro details. 3RL for fine line and scripting. 5RL — most popular, versatile daily lining. 7RL for neo-traditional outlines. 9RL for bold outlines. 11RL and 14RL for very thick lines (traditional, tribal). All in #12 gauge (0.35mm). This is one of the most complete RL ranges in the industry. What voltage works for Cheyenne Safety RL? Optimal voltage on Sol Nova: 6.5-8.5V. 1RL-3RL fine line: 6.5-7.5V. 5RL-7RL standard: 7.5-8V. 9RL+ bold: 8-8.5V. On other machines, add 0.3V. Safety RL has a wider sweet spot than Craft — it works well across a broader voltage range without quality degradation. This is one of the advanced membrane's advantages: greater tolerance to voltage variations, giving artists more freedom in their preferred settings. How does Cheyenne Safety RL compare to Kwadron RL? Cheyenne Safety RL and Kwadron RL are the two giants of premium liner cartridges, each with its own advantages. Safety RL wins on: ink flow (superior membrane), consistency (German manufacturing), and machine feel (smoother return). Kwadron wins on: gauge variety (#10, #12, #14), taper variety (short, medium, long, extra long), and slightly more accessible pricing. Both are excellent premium choices. Artists tend to become loyal to one or the other. Recommendation: test both and choose based on personal preference. Is Cheyenne Safety RL suitable for fine line tattoo? Yes, Cheyenne Safety RL in 1RL and 3RL configurations is one of the best options for fine line tattoo. The advanced Safety membrane ensures constant ink flow even at the low voltages required for fine line. Microscopic needle polishing guarantees smooth penetration without dragging or jittering. For professional fine line, 3RL Safety at 6.5-7V on Sol Nova produces ultra-thin, clear, consistent lines. The only better option is Capillary RL — but at a proportionally higher price. How many Safety RL cartridges should I have for a work day? A typical work day (2-3 sessions, 6-8 total hours) requires 8-15 RL Safety cartridges, depending on predominant style. Intensive lining (traditional, neo-traditional with extensive outlines): 10-15 cartridges. Moderate lining (realism with minimal outline, illustrative): 5-8 cartridges. Each cartridge lasts 20-40 minutes of active lining. Recommendation: maintain a stock of minimum 40-60 Safety RL cartridges (configuration mix) to cover a work week without restocking. Is upgrading from Craft RL to Safety RL worth it? If you tattoo professionally (paying clients, daily or frequently), yes, the upgrade to Safety RL is one of the most impactful investments you can make. The difference is felt immediately: cleaner lines on the first pass, less manual effort, more constant flow, and superior healing results. The additional cost per cartridge (2-4 RON) is insignificant relative to the session price. If you tattoo occasionally or are starting out, Craft RL remains a solid choice until work volume justifies the upgrade. What sterilization does Cheyenne Safety RL use? Cheyenne Safety RL uses gamma sterilization (irradiation), considered the gold standard in the medical industry. Unlike ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization used by most competitors, gamma leaves no chemical residues on the product. The process penetrates the sealed packaging guaranteeing complete sterility. Each batch is tested and documented per ISO standards. The sterilization indicator on the packaging visibly changes, confirming successful processing. Does Cheyenne Safety RL work on non-Cheyenne machines? Yes, Cheyenne Safety RL is compatible with all pen-style machines with standard cartridge grips. Works excellently on FK Irons Xion, Bishop Fantom, Dragonhawk Mast, EZ P2S, Pen, and other brands. While Cheyenne officially recommends their own machines, from a technical standpoint there is no compatibility issue. Optimal performance is on Cheyenne machines (perfect calibration), but on premium non-Cheyenne machines (FK Irons, Bishop), the difference is minimal. Does Cheyenne Safety RL have a warranty? Cheyenne guarantees the sterility and compliance of each Safety RL cartridge as long as the original packaging is intact and the expiration date has not passed. Manufacturing defects (deformed needles, defective membrane, incorrect configuration) are covered — contact the authorized distributor with the lot number for replacement. Cheyenne's defect rate is below 0.1%, one of the lowest in the industry. Never use a suspect cartridge — client safety prevails over any other consideration.
